Keeping Your Chimney Clean and Safe

By Maid Brigade of Northern Connecticut

On these cold winter nights, there’s nothing like getting cozy in front of a roaring fire.

But you have to remember that regular inspection and cleaning is critical to keeping your stove or fireplace in safe operating condition.

Cleaning the good old fashioned way is impossible without the proper tools. Professional chimney sweeps use chimney-sweeping brushes and extendable rods. You can use the same brushes and rods. Plastic sheeting and drop clothes are essential for protecting your home interior.

A chimney cleaning brush must be the proper size for the chimney. Too wide and the brush may get caught and fail to clean properly. Too narrow, on the other hand, and the brush will still fail to clean the walls as it will lack the proper friction. The correct chimney brush will fit the inside diameter perfectly.

A face mask and eye protection are a smart idea. Long pants, long shirtsleeves, and heavy gloves are also essential.

Be sure to cover the front of your fireplace with plastic and tape it in place or close your wood stove doors. Additional plastic, drop clothes, old sheets or even newspaper will protect the floor around your hearth and surrounding furniture. Lay more material, from the front door of the house to the wood-burning appliance, to protect your floors as you walk in and out.

Removing the spark catcher or flue cap allows complete, unrestricted access to the chimney from the roof level. From inside the house, fireplace or stove doors may also be removed to safeguard the glass and allow more work space in some cases.

The most common chimney cleaning method involves extending a brush, at the end of a rod, down the chimney flue with a swirling motion. Once the brush reaches the bottom, it is reversed, swirling again to the top of the chimney. Each cycle of the brush will knock more creosote loose. When fresh soot and creosote fails to appear on the removed brush, the chimney is again visually inspected to ensure completion.

To clean from the bottom of the chimney, rods must be used. The same circular movement of the chimney brush, pushed to the top of the chimney, will clean the clinging creosote residue. However, this method is more awkward and it also makes it harder to avoid making a mess around the wood stove or fireplace.

With diligent inspections, proper wood burning practices, and periodic chimney cleaning, your wood stove or fireplace will last nearly forever. Not only will you keep it looking good and burning efficiently, but the fire will stay exactly where it’s supposed to be – inside the fireplace or stove, keeping you warm.

Need some help around the house? Give Maid Brigade of Central Connecticut a call at 860-645-6243 and we’ll help you out.